Other News - 12/22/2008

Air Tanzania suspended operations following the Dec. 8 suspension of its AOC by the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, which said the move was a "precautionary but very necessary action to avoid the possibility of the airline compromising flight safety." It said TC's aircraft were airworthy and that passenger safety never was at risk, and that the carrier has submitted "about half" of the documentation required for recertification.

The US majors will not give up on their campaign against the Gulf carriers, which present the biggest-ever threat to the future of US airlines, the CEO of United Airlines said in a speech in New York Thursday....More

Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) president Tim Canoll said the wider public has to be educated about the threat laser pointers pose to aircraft and help law enforcement catch people shining lasers into cockpits....More

US airlines, particularly regional carriers, have expressed hope that strict pilot training requirements implemented by FAA in 2013 will be eased in FAA reauthorization legislation expected to be taken up by Congress later this year, but there will likely be a strong push back against any efforts to change the rules....More